The end of the World War Two marked the beginning of a remarkable period in British civil aviation. Hundreds of surplus RAF Douglas Dakotas entered civilian service, providing independent airlines and air transport operators with a robust, economical, and readily available aircraft that would become the backbone of post-war commercial flying. Carrying passengers and freight, the Dakota helped shape Britain’s expanding air transport network throughout the post-war period.
Illustrated with more than 100 photographs, complemented by contemporary advertisements and timetables from Air-Britain’s unrivalled archives and long-established private collections, British Civil Dakotas documents aircraft operated on the UK register by 70 airlines, subsidiaries and aviation-related companies between 1945 and 1960.
From major independent operators to lesser-known regional carriers, this volume provides a photographic record of some of Britain’s civil Dakotas during their formative post-war years, making it an essential reference for enthusiasts, historians and civil aviation researchers alike.
